The 25 Best Self-Love Books You’ll Want to Read More Than Once
Right this way for a pep talk.
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Okay, hear me out: Some of the best company you can keep is yourself. That's right, you've gotta learn to be your own best friend and show yourself the love you would shower your bestie with, because as the great RuPaul says, "If you can't love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?" Self-love (or lack thereof) can have a big impact, making navigating your day-to-day sufficiently better than if you didn’t have true self-acceptance. I know, I know, it sounds corny, but it's true!
Now I also know that in a world of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and having to navigate difficult situations that can leave us feeling, well, a little critical of ourselves, it's usually easier said than done to show ourselves a lil' self-love. But just like any skill, learning to love yourself and understanding where negative self-talk is coming from (and how to talk back to it!) is something you need to actively work on. If you need a hand in that area or just appreciate a good reminder, these self-love books are so inspiring that you’ll actually want to reread them (or lend them to your friends, because they could probably use a reminder, too).
When CEO Kamal Ravikant completely fell apart after his company tanked, he went on a mission to start loving himself and it ended up saving him. Now he's written a book about it that will not only make you want to love yourself too, but will show you exactly how to do it.
Learning to embrace vulnerability can be hard, especially when we've been taught, directly or indirectly, that being vulnerable is weak. In this book, the iconic Brené Brown dispels that myth and shows you how it's actually a strength and opens us up to so many other amazing life experiences.
If you find poetry speaks to your soul more than anything else, then this book of poems needs to get added to your to-read list. It touches on everything from letting go of bad relationships to healing, growth, self-esteem, and living a life full of love.
This is a classic in the world of self-love books, having come out more than 25 years ago and still being popular today. It focuses on getting rid of self-limiting beliefs that hold us back and provides a guide to transform your life so you can experience freedom, joy, and love.
Whether you're trying to stick to your New Year's resolution of reading more or just get through your endless daily to-do lists, a lot of us have a tendency to beat ourselves up when we start struggling to do what we wanted to do. This book encourages you to move towards self-compassion, and provides exercises and action plans that can be put into place when those struggles come up.
It can be almost second-nature for a lot of us to hold onto anger, resentment, and regret, but really all that ends up doing is exhausting us emotionally. So, this book maps out ways to overcome that emotional turmoil by changing negative thought patterns so that you can start enjoying your life more.
Instead of going to college, Jay Shetty went to India to live as a monk for three years. In this book he shares many of the lessons he learned there, like how to stop overthinking, why you are not your thoughts, how to access your inner calm, and how to find purpose. All of these put together are a recipe for self-love success.
Brené Brown is basically the reigning queen of self-help/self-love books, and this one in particular is all about learning to accept imperfections, especially during the times when we don't live up to the unattainable (and sometimes self-sabotaging) expectations we set for ourselves.
It's so easy to get caught up in the grind culture, putting in an exhausting amount of hours with work or school or parenting or whatever endeavor's in front of you. And then there's family obligations and friends, and suddenly you have no time for yourself. Well one of the best ways you can show yourself some love is by setting boundaries, giving you time to focus on you! Leaning to say "no" is hard, but this book can help you get there.
Sometimes we don't need to read multiple chapters of a book to change our perspective on ourselves. Sometimes an empowering affirmation that we repeat throughout the day will do the trick.
What little kid didn't want to be a unicorn at some point? I mean, they're beautiful and magical and downright cool. Well, this book is all about letting your inner magic shine so you can be a unicorn. If you could do with some encouragement to just be yourself and, most importantly, believe in yourself, then you'll want to grab a copy.
TV exec Tara Schuster gets brutally honest in this witty book about growing up–whether you’re in your 20s or 50s–and “learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it’s-so-cheesy way.” She shares the daily rituals that helped her re-parent herself and become a self-love expert.
This book is all about how being alone is literally the best thing that can ever happen to you. It centers on how you decide your own self-worth and how to avoid toxic relationships. Plus, it features author Chidera Eggerue's original artwork. Who doesn’t love a well-designed, helpful book?
Jam-packed with life lessons, Glennon Doyle’s memoir boils down to abandoning the world’s expectations of you. It’s about fully embracing every aspect of your life to live totally free as a woman in the modern world.
Overthinking seems uncontrollable, but author Anne Bogel is here to tell you that it's an act you can actually stop doing. In Don't Overthink It, she offers strategies to help you deal with indecisions and what-ifs both big and small.
Astrologer Chani Nicholas takes you through three foundational parts of your birth chart in this page turner that essentially tells you to stop looking outside of yourself for validation, and embrace self-acceptance. To achieve that, it features journal prompts, reflection questions, and affirmations tailored to your astrological makeup.
Author Shannon Kaiser draws from her personal experience of learning to love herself and finding purpose after recovering from eating disorders, drug addictions, corporate burnout, and depression. It’s basically about learning how to put yourself first, which, FYI, isn’t selfish!
In 27 super short chapters, bestselling author Jen Sincero offers inspiring stories, solid advice, and simple exercises to help you get a grip on one thing: You are a badass. By the end of the how-to guide, you'll understand yourself better, love what you can't change, and know how to alter what you can change.
Big Magic focuses on self-love through creativity. In it, author Elizabeth Gilbert dives into the nature of inspiration. She encourages readers to tackle what they most love and let go of any fears, all while nurturing curiosity and smothering needless suffering.
''Here's what you've forgotten: You're a fu*king miracle of being,'' Gary John Bishop writes in this straightforward handbook that centers on moving past self-imposed limits. You’re the only one standing in the way of getting or doing what you want.
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